With the ME3, there's a political drive to serve MAN as well, especially with Etihad sponsoring Manchester Rovers Boy's Club. It's a marketing strategy to increase brand recognition globally as well as bring a degree of respectability
While I don't support Man City, I don't see why that level of investment in a multi billion pound industry should be nullified by calling it a boys club. Quite frankly if Manchester is the recipient of such large investment, by means of flight, call centres, stadiums, academies and the likes, then call it what you want, you wont hear me complaining, in fact, let them bring in more.
Also, if serving Manchester is mainly political, then I suppose politics is also forcing those now millions of passengers to fly those 3 airlines between MAN and various points, instead of transporting fresh air back and two? Nothing at all to do with the large ethnic populations in the North West and UK from the sub-continent and far east?
The only profitable carier from that region is Emirates
I thought Etihad had now made a profit?